Bed covering apparatus and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

A dual comfort bed covering apparatus and method of manufacturing are disclosed. In one form, a dual comfort bed coving apparatus includes a first portion including a length, a width, a perimeter edge, and a first material having a first thickness. The apparatus further includes a second portion coupled along a longitudinal midline of the first portion and includes the length, the width, a second perimeter edge, and a second material having a second thickness. The first and second portions are formed to substantially cover a mattress.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention relates to bed covering, and more particularly to a dual comfort bed covering apparatus and method of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

Bed coverings are used to keep a person at a desired temperature and comfort level while lying in bed. Bed coverings such as sheets commonly consist of cotton, cotton flannel, wool flannel, silk, satin, and a variety of synthetic materials. These materials are typically provided in various thickness or thread counts with each thickness providing a different comfort level for the user.

Often when a couple sleeps together, both desire different sleeping temperatures and/or prefer the feel of different materials. One person may sleep comfortable with one type of bedcovering, while the other person may not. For example, one person may prefer the cool smooth feel of silk sheets while the other may prefer the warmth and texture of thick flannel. As such, it would be advantageous to have bedding that accommodates each individual without sacrificing each individuals sleep preferences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the invention, as well as methods, operation and functions of related elements of structure, and the combinations of parts and economies of manufacture, will become apparent upon consideration of the following description and claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of the specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a dual comfort bedcovering apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of a dual comfort bedcovering apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of a dual comfort bedcovering apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of a dual comfort fitted bedcovering apparatus when coupled to a mattress according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

A dual comfort bed covering apparatus and method of manufacturing are disclosed. In one form, a dual comfort bed coving apparatus includes a first portion having a length, a width, a perimeter edge, and a first material having a first thickness. The apparatus further includes a second portion coupled along a longitudinal midline of the first portion. The second portion includes the length, the width, a second perimeter edge, and a second material having a second thickness. The first and second portions are formed to substantially cover a mattress.

In a particularized form, a dual comfort bed coving apparatus includes a first portion having a flannel fabric and a length, a width, a thickness, a perimeter edge, and a first material having a first thickness. The apparatus further includes a second portion including a cotton fabric. The second portion is coupled along a longitudinal midline of the first portion and includes the length, the width, a second perimeter edge, and a second material having a second thickness. The first and second portions are formed to substantially cover a mattress.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing a dual bed covering apparatus is provided. The method includes providing a first portion including a length, a width, a thickness, and a first material having a thickness and providing a second portion including the length, the width, and a second material having a second thickness. The method further includes coupling the first portion to the second portion along a longitudinal midline of the first portion.

FIG. 1 illustrates a dual comfort bedcovering apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention. A dual comfort bed covering, illustrated generally at 100, includes first portion 101 having a length 107, a width 105, a longitudinal midline 103, a first perimeter edge 109, and a first material 108 having a first thickness (not expressly shown). Dual comfort bed covering 100 further includes a second portion 102 coupled to first portion 101 along longitudinal midline 103. Second portion 102 includes length 107, width 105, a second perimeter edge 104, and a second material 110 having a second thickness (not expressly shown). First portion 101 and second portion 102 are formed to substantially cover a conventional mattress (not expressly shown).

First material 108 and second material 110 may include various types of materials having various types of thickness, thread counts, etc. such that a dual comfort bedding is provided. Various materials such as cotton, silk, wool, satin, synthetic fiber, polyester, or other bedding fabrics or materials may be provided as first material 108 and second material 110. Other fabrics such as cloth material made that may include blended materials, such as a blended cotton, cotton flannel, wool flannel, polyester-based materials, various synthetic materials, or any other type of material that may be formed into dual comfort bed covering 100. For example, first material 108 may include flannel which is usually made from wool, wool and cotton, or wool and synthetic fabric. Second material 110 may include a material that is not flannel (i.e. cotton, satin, silk, etc.). In this manner, first portion 101 having a flannel-based material would keep an individual warmer than second portion 102 having a non-flannel material (i.e. cotton, satin, silk, etc.).

In one embodiment, first portion 101 may be coupled to second portion 102 using one or more different types of coupling mechanisms. For example, a sewing or stitching method may be used wherein materials such as yarn, thread, line, etc. may be used and first portion 101 and second portion 102 may be stitched or sewn along longitudinal midline 103 such that first portion 101 and second portion 102 are aligned to form perimeter edges 104 and 109. Additionally, first portion 101 and second portion 102 may be any type of material that may be formed into a bedcover for covering a mattress.

Dual bed covering apparatus 100 may come in a variety of sizes suitable for use on different size mattresses such as a twin size, full size, queen size, king size, etc. For example, a twin size includes width 104 being approximately sixty-six (66) inches and length 103 of approximately ninety-six (96) inches. A full size includes width 104 being approximately eighty-one (81) inches and length 103 of approximately ninety-six (96) inches. A queen size includes width 104 being approximately ninety (90) inches length 103 of approximately one hundred two (102) inches. A king size includes width 104 being approximately one hundred-eight (108) inches and length 103 of approximately one hundred two (102) inches. Dual bed covering apparatus 100 may also be manufactured in various custom sizes as desired.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of a dual comfort bedcovering apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention. Dual comfort bed covering apparatus, illustrated generally at 200, includes a first portion 201 having a first thickness 203 and second portion 202 having as second thickness 204. First portion 201 and second portion 202 include the same material. For example, in one embodiment first portion 201 and second portion 202 may both comprise cotton and first portion thickness 203 may be one eighth of an inch in thickness and second portion thickness 204 may be one sixteenth of an inch in thickness. In this manner, the same material may be used to provide bedcovering apparatus 200 and through varying the thickness along a midline 205, a dual comfort bedcovering may be provided using the same material thereby reducing the overall costs associated with providing a bedcovering having various types of materials.

In one embodiment, when manufacturing dual climate bedcovering 200, the same material may be provided and folded in a manner to provide first portion 201 having a first thickness 202 greater than second portion 202 having a second thickness 204. For example, a material such as cotton may be used and folded such that a dual ply of cotton forms first portion 201. In this manner, first portion 201 may have an overall thickness that is twice as great as first second portion 202. In another embodiment first portion 201 may also include an insulating material, filling, downing, etc. to create first thickness 203.

Although illustrated as providing the same material having a different overall thickness, apparatus 200 may include the same material having different thread counts such that one material may breath or allow air to circulate differently. For example, first portion 201 may include an eight hundred (800) thread-count while second portion 202 may include a two hundred (200) thread count. In this manner, the same thickness of material may be provided for dual comfort bed covering apparatus 200.

In one embodiment, first portion 201 and second portion 202 may be seamlessly coupled to form apparutus 200. For example, during a weaving or looming process first portion 201 and second portion 202 may be loomed together to seamlessly couple first portion 201 to second portion 202. In this manner, an additional process for coupling first portion 201 to second portion 202 would not be required.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of a dual comfort bedcovering apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention. A dual comfort bedcovering apparatus, illustrated generally at 300, includes a substrate 301, a first portion 302, and a second portion 303. Substrate 301 is coupled to an underside of first portion 302 and second portion 303 and may be provided having the same pattern or overall appearance. For example, dual comfort bed covering apparatus 300 may have the same cosmetic appearance through providing a substrate 301 having the same material and, while a first user may benefit from a first material 302 such as a cotton material and a second user may benefit from a second material 303 such as a satin material. As such, each user may enjoy a specific type of material while the overall outer appearance of a dual comfort bedcovering apparatus 300 remains the same.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of a dual comfort fitted bedcovering apparatus when coupled to a mattress according to one embodiment of the invention. Dual comfort bedcovering apparatus, illustrated generally as fitted sheet 400, includes a first portion 401, a second portion 402, and a midline 403 positioned along first portion 401 and second portion 402 to divide fitted sheet 400 into a dual comfort bedcovering. Fitted sheet 400 further includes an elastic material (not expressly shown) coupled along or integrated as a part of perimeter 404 such that fitted sheet may be securely fastened to an underlying mattress (not expressly shown). Fitted sheet 400 further includes a first corner 405, a second corner 406, a third corner 407, and a fourth corner 408 to further allow for covering of a mattress and securing fitted sheet 400. During use, a user may couple fitted sheet 400 to a mattress and use an additional sheet (not expressly shown) to cover themselves. An additional sheet may or may not include the same material and dual comfort as fitted sheet 400. However, a user may desire to use a matching sheet, such as dual comfort bed covering 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, with fitted sheet 400 as desired. Various other combinations of materials for fitted sheet 400 and dual comfort bed covering 100 may also be realized. For example, first portion 101 of FIG. 1 may be made of the same or different material than first portion 401 of FIG. 4. As such, a user may combine different types of materials as desired.

Note that although an embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail herein, along with certain variants thereof, many other varied embodiments that incorporate the teachings of the invention may be easily constructed by those skilled in the art. Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A dual comfort bed covering apparatus comprising: a first portion including a length, a width, a perimeter edge, and a first material having a first thickness; and a second portion coupled along a longitudinal midline of the first portion, the second portion including the length, the width, a second perimeter edge, and a second material having a second thickness different from the first thickness, the first and second portions formed to substantially cover a mattress.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a substrate coupled to an underside of the first portion and the second portion.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the substrate comprises cotton.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first material and the second material comprise a fabric material, the first thickness different from the second thickness.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first portion and the material portion comprise cotton.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise wool.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise synthetic fibers.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a a the first and second portions seamlessly coupled together.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising the first and second materials coupled using a looming process.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first material comprises cotton and the second material comprises flannel.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first material contains cotton and the second material contains flannel.
 12. A method of manufacturing a dual bed covering apparatus comprising: providing a first portion including a length, a width, a thickness, and a first material having a thickness; providing a second portion including the length, the width, and a second material having a second thickness; and coupling the first portion to the second portion along a longitudinal midline of the first portion.
 13. The method of manufacturing of claim 12 further comprising: providing a substrate; and coupling the substrate to the first portion and the second portion.
 14. A dual comfort mattress cover apparatus comprising: a first portion including flannel fabric having a length, a width, a thickness, a first perimeter edge, and a first material having a first thickness; and a second portion including cotton fabric coupled along a longitudinal midline of the first portion, the second portion including the length, the width, a second perimeter edge, and a second material having a second thickness, the first and second portions formed to substantially cover a mattress.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising additional material coupled to the first perimeter edge and the second perimeter edge.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the additional material comprises an elastic material suitable for coupling the first and second perimeters to a portion of the mattress to form a fitted sheet.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising the width and the length approximately sized for use with a twin sized mattress.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14 further having the width and the length approximately sized for use with a full sized mattress.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14 further having the width and the length approximately sized for use with a queen sized mattress.
 20. The apparatus of claim 14 further having the width and the length approximately sized for use with a king sized mattress. 